AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 281 



NORMAN CATTLE WITHOUT HORNS. 



By Mons. Dutrone^ IIo7iorary Counsellor of the Imperial Court at 



Ameins. 

 To THE President, 



Sir : Last July I took to England some of our Nonnun stock, 

 without horns, and they were exhibited at the Chelmsford fair. 

 I was introduced to the directors, Lord Portman and Sir Evelyn 

 Denison. I found there hornless bulls and cows of the Suffolk 

 race; very fine cattle, and the cows are among the best milkers; 

 they make excellent butter and exquisite cheese. Among the 

 owners, I remarked Lady Cullum, tlie Marquis of Bristol, Lord 

 Stadbrook, Lord Sondes, Colonel Tomlin, Colonel Mason, Messrs. 

 Edward Kerrison, Edward Gooch, Mosby, xishhurst, Magendie, 

 LL Eerkbeck, Morton Pito, Eavin, and others. 



In regard to ornament, this race does not shine, excepting only 

 the splendid development of milk bag. 



NOTE ON THE PRESERVATION OF THE INSECT-DESTROY- 

 ING EIRDS. 



.'It the session in Maij^ 1857. 



This society has been much occu])ied wiih this important sub- 

 ject, for the loss of the birds may lead to the most melancholy 

 consequence from the destroying insects. The l}irds liave been 

 hunted by bird calls and nets to a disastrous amount. 



After being a long time away from the district of my early life, 

 I v,'as surprised at the great rarity of birds now, wliich then 

 abounded. The birds were not fit to eat, but a shocking habit of 

 killing them for pleasure has prevailed; the more timid birds left 

 the district. But the -magpies had considerably increased in 

 number. As these are very fond of the eggs of other ])irds, I very 

 naturally concluded, that this was the principal cause of the 

 destruction of the insect-eating birds. I found this to be true, 

 and that it would be necessary to attack the magpies. They are 

 cunning, and it is not easy to get them with the gun. Poison 

 won't do, for we found our dogs poisoned, and some other animals. 

 So we concluded that the best way was to destroy their eggs, as 

 they destroyed the eggs of the little birds. I oflercd five centimes 



